Konoha — ROOT's underground base.
"Lord Danzō…"
A middle-aged ninja knelt on one knee within the dark, oppressive depths of ROOT's subterranean headquarters.
A stray beam of moonlight filtered down from somewhere unknown, making the already chilling atmosphere even colder.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
The sound of a cane striking the stone floor echoed through the darkness.
An elderly figure slowly emerged.
A heavy robe draped over his body. His head was wrapped in layers of bandages, one eye completely covered.
At first glance, he looked like a man clinging to life after grievous injuries.
Yet throughout the shinobi world, no one dared underestimate him.
Shimura Danzō.
Advisor to the Hokage.
Former leader of ROOT.
A man consumed by ambition—willing to do anything to claim the title of Hokage.
"Hiruzen has appointed you to manage the Medical Emergency Unit?"
Danzō narrowed his single exposed eye and spoke slowly.
"Just you alone? Ao."
"Elder Homura and Elder Koharu are also involved," the kneeling ninja replied respectfully.
"The Hokage has ordered me to assist the two elders."
"Pointless compromise," Danzō said coldly.
"Hiruzen is still as weak as ever."
His voice was soft, yet utterly unquestionable.
"Do you understand your mission, Yashiro Ao?"
"Yes! Completely!"
"I will take full control of the Medical Emergency Unit in the shortest possible time—
for your sake, Lord Danzō!"
"Good. You may leave."
"Yes!"
Yashiro Ao withdrew silently.
"Hmph… Sarutobi Hiruzen. Kusunoki Naraku."
Danzō clenched his cane, the ambition in his eye burning relentlessly.
"ROOT will return soon."
Once, Danzō had commanded a private military force within Konoha.
ROOT.
Its methods were ruthless and emotionless. Every action was justified on the surface as being "for Konoha," while secretly serving Danzō's personal ambitions.
Because of this, his status within the village had once been exceedingly high.
After the Uchiha Clan Massacre, however, Sarutobi Hiruzen stripped Danzō of his authority and forcibly disbanded ROOT.
Yet in truth, aside from a small number of exceptions, most ROOT operatives were absorbed back into ANBU.
They continued to serve Danzō in the shadows—waiting for the day ROOT would be restored.
This time, by working with Homura and Koharu to push Yashiro Ao into the Medical Emergency Unit, Danzō wasn't merely testing the waters.
He was rebuilding his strength.
Casting one last glance over the silent, pitch-black base, Danzō turned and departed.
"No one can stop my return."
[Name: Kusunoki Naraku]
[Gender: Male]
[Age: 26]
[Physical Condition: A]
[Mental Strength: S+]
[chakra reservess: A+ (Exceeds 96% of shinobi in the world!)]
[Chakra Natures: Fire, Wind, Lightning, Water, Earth, Yin, Yang]
The status panel provided by the system gave Naraku a clear understanding of his current strength.
At this point, his power placed him among the upper tier of shinobi—not just in Konoha, but across the entire ninja world.
Still, he remained far from the very pinnacle.
"So from now on, if I want to keep drawing rewards, I need to keep getting promoted."
He paused, then corrected himself with a grin.
"No—for Konoha. For the future of the shinobi world, I need to keep getting promoted."
Vice Director of the Konoha Medical Division.
Vice Captain of ANBU.
"…Why are both of them vice positions?"
Recalling the Third Hokage's appointments, Naraku's thoughts aligned rapidly.
The system.
Promotions.
ANBU.
The Medical Division.
Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Homura Mitokado.
Koharu.
Shimura Danzō.
Yashiro Ao.
Everything became clear.
"I thought they'd keep tolerating it longer."
"So even our Hokage doesn't want me holding full control of the Medical Emergency Unit anymore."
Turning his head, Naraku glanced toward the brightly lit Hokage Building in the distance.
A smile curved his lips.
"Dango! Fresh tri-color dango!"
"Care for a drink, sir?"
"New shipment of ninja tools! Finest kunai available!"
Walking through the bustling commercial district, Naraku was about to grab dinner when he noticed a familiar figure approaching from the opposite direction.
"That way again… Visiting the Memorial Stone for Obito and Nohara Rin?"
"Kakashi!"
Naraku quickened his pace and called out.
Lost in his own thoughts, Hatake Kakashi didn't notice him until his name was called.
"Oh. Naraku."
Naraku ignored Kakashi's listless demeanor.
"Come on. I need to talk to you. Your treat."
"…Huh?"
Kakashi's perpetually dead-fish eyes filled with suspicion.
"I'm busy today."
His hand unconsciously moved to the pocket where a certain book was hidden.
He had stood in line forever to buy the latest volume of Jiraiya's Icha Icha Paradise.
He had no intention of paying for food.
"Busy?" Naraku scoffed.
"Someone lined up before dawn to buy adult novels—"
"I'll treat!"
Kakashi immediately surrendered.
Inside a quiet private room at an izakaya.
"ANBU?" Kakashi looked at Naraku.
"You're obviously suited to being Vice Captain—but what about the Medical Division?"
In Kakashi's eyes, Naraku was best suited to controlling Konoha's medical system.
"What, worried I'll steal your position as ANBU Captain?"
"No."
Kakashi lowered his head, thinking for a moment.
"Then who's taking over your role in medical?"
"Yashiro Ao. Though technically I was promoted—Vice Director of the Medical Division. I still manage body disposal and veterinary operations."
"…Why him? Don't tell me—"
Kakashi reacted instantly, sensing something wrong.
"You're right," Naraku nodded.
"He used to be a medical ninja. Senior, experienced."
And—
A former member of ROOT.
Danzō's man.
Both of them understood what that meant.
Kakashi despised Danzō—and despised ROOT's methods even more.
Because once, Hatake Kakashi himself had been a ROOT operative.
He had even received orders to assassinate the Third Hokage.
In the end, he chose Sarutobi Hiruzen instead.
Because of that past, Kakashi knew better than anyone that ROOT's disbandment meant nothing.
Danzō still controlled his people.
"Doesn't concern me," Kakashi yawned.
"Perfect timing, actually. With you in ANBU, I can offload a lot of work."
At present, Kakashi was ANBU Captain.
Aside from the Hokage himself, no one held more authority within ANBU.
Yet Kakashi didn't care for power at all.
As long as missions were done, he'd rather spend his free time reading.
"Nice dream—but forget it."
Looking at Kakashi's masked face, Naraku said:
"I brought you here to learn more about ANBU."
"…I see."
Given Naraku's rank, aside from the most classified secrets, there was little Kakashi couldn't explain.
And with over a decade in ANBU, few understood the organization better than he did.